BMTC drivers trained on electric tracks to prevent road accidents

Tracks with built-in sensors detect errors automatically

To avoid and reduce accidents involving Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses, the BMTC is training its drivers on special electronic track at a specialised training centre in Bengaluru.

The centre trains the drivers in soft skills concerned with driving as well. The centre, which is on a specialised campus at Vaddarahalli, has its focus clearly on techniques to be learnt to avoid accidents. The track is built in such a way as to strengthen techniques.

Says Chief Traffic Manager (Operations) B C Renukeshwar: “We have built-in sensors all along the track to recognise whether a driver is driving as per standards. On this track, when the driver makes a mistake, the sensors capture the error automatically. The driver will have to take several repeat drives to qualify.”

The track is shaped like figure eight and the trainees have to drive along sharp curves. And all along the curve, there are batons with inbuilt sensors. A small increase in speed will push the bus close to the batons which the driver has to avoid hitting.

The track is straight and curved and is of small width. It can accommodate only one bus at a time. So, there is very little space for the driver to manoeuvre and there is every chance that during a turn, the bus may hit the baton on the track. It requires precise skill to turn the bus in case of a curved track like figure eight. People who cannot manoeuvre and hit the baton will be eliminated.

“Driving along sharp curves is the most important aspect and so is braking and accelerating. The latter is very crucial because of the heavy traffic flow in the City, where every vehicle from two-wheelers to buses have to stop suddenly and accelerate suddenly, moving inch by inch.

“The stop-and-start experience is crucial for bus driving. The drivers have to manage the movement of the entire bus, so as not to touch any vehicle on the sides and in the front and at the back,” say a few BMTC drivers. The senior BMTC official says that the training is rigorous and resembles actual situations.

“Even if the driver has qualified on any other test track and has a licence, he will be accepted in BMTC only if he passes the test on the BMTC track. “We recruit our drivers directly from the training centre. Apart from training, the centre also takes up recruitment. This way, we are confident that BMTC-trained drivers alone are driving BMTC buses.”